1. That policeman should go to prison. 2. Peaceful protest is fine. 3. Rioting and looting is not fine. 4. Inb4 lock for politics.

Everyone else is doing it so -blam!- it. Remember how America was founded? The Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. Protesters gunned down in the streets by authorities and acts of civil disobedience before becoming a war. That's what's happening. Peaceful protests haven't accomplished anything. Their words are being ignored and the authorities are doubling down. There are so many videos of cops assaulting protesters and reporters unprovoked. Welcome to Revolution 2: Electric Boogaloo.

My friend lost his job because rioters lit the store he worked at on fire. A kid having an asthma attack nearly died because protesters blocked first responders from getting there. Riots are not the answer. [spoiler]also if this happened to a white dude nobody would have batted and eye. which is pretty messed up to think about.[/spoiler]

At the moment I’m more pissed off at the rioters. All they’re doing is making things worse for themselves... yeah, let’s destroy public property and things that benefit everyone! That’ll show society! And F you random car!

I’m surprised this is still up. I think the whole “peaceful protests don’t work” mentality is just incorrect. They do work, but they need someone to lead them to do it right, there’s no such figurehead in todays outrage like there was with MLK. All you have is ANTIFA, people who actually want change and looters, it’s a chaotic disconnected group of people who all feel the same way (minus the looters, -blam!- those guys) yet will not come together and are acting out in violent ways because they can’t think of a decision other than destroying everything.

I don’t think anyone believes riots and violence are a good thing. Of course they are harmful to jobs, property et cetera. But it is a necessary evil; as someone below said, people’s voices are not heard through peaceful protest. Exploitation of minorities has been a systemic issue for too long and if people want to be angry about it I say let them be angry. These protests need to happen if change is ever going to be made. Between Glen Arbery and George Floyd both happening in the past couple months I think the outrage is absolutely justified.

Since the mods appear to be letting this thread remain open, I’ll add my two cents as well. To paraphrase what I said elsewhere.. First and foremost, I do not support riots. I do not support looting. And I do not support violence. But I understand it. People are quick to speak against violence (when it affects them). People say “violence is never the answer“, but never seem to know what “the answer” actually is. Or they spout off with some unrealistic pie-in-the-sky ideologies like “we all just need to talk and hug it out!!”. Which isn’t incorrect. A lot of our issues with society could make great strides if the people involved would have open communication, understanding, and compromise. This is all true. But what do you do when the other person isn’t interested in talking? And what do you do when it’s your family that is being most affected by the issue they won’t discuss? And what do you do when the people refusing to talk are the very people allowing (or even causing)your life to be for the worse? You try to have a discussion.. but they turn their back to you. You tap them on the shoulder, but the walk away. But you hit them over the back of the head with a 2x4 and suddenly you have their undivided attention. So I agree. Violence is bad. Everyone saying so is correct. But what’s also correct is that no major change in history has occurred without it. And as much as it sucks that we’re living in 2020 and still haven’t figured out how to stop being animals to each other to see the progress we need.. the truth is that nothing would come of this if the violence wasn’t apart of it. If these were all peaceful protests, it would be a 5min blurb on the evening news placed between the nightly weather and the latest Kardashian drama. But now? Now people are being heard. And discussions are happening. Because they have to. And because the right people are getting nervous. I only see two possible outcomes to all this. Things will blow over, go back to “normal” in a few days.. and we’ll all be here having this same conversation in a couple years when it all erupts again. Or this is just the beginning. And things are going to get a lot more scary before they get better. But actual change will happen. Either way, this issue isn’t going away until we find a permanent solution. That’s a fact.

[i]There are a lot of things that I can ( and that I want ) say about the situation. But for the sake of brevity ( and not pissing off the mods ) I will just say that the whole entire situation has been a debacle that has left me very, very disappointed, and ashamed to be a member of the human race. George Floyd was murdered in cold blood. Yes, people, especially the African American ( I’m not an American, but I am a mixed race person, my Mom is black, and I know what it’s like to be discriminated against just because of the colour of my skin ) community have a justifiable reason to be upset. They also have a right to Protest [b]Peacefully[/b]. But Rioting, and Looting, and beating the shit out of people...I’m disgusted. And the police’s response is just as horrific. They are acting in such a way that shows why minorities have such little faith and confidence in Law Enforcement. Thugs with badges. No one gains anything from this situation.[/i]

The riots are out of control. I get it, peace isn’t an option, but destroying and stealing for no reason is dumb, and makes the rioters look like the bad guy. They threw tea in the ocean for a reason, but we have destroyed many supermarkets for no reason.

Honestly I know nothing about it (nor really want to) other than what a friend told me. Which was idiot cop killed a guy and the media turned it into race war propaganda as per usual.

This hasn't been locked lol

Without being overly wordy with it as honestly I’ve said my piece elsewhere and there really is not rationalizing things to some people. I just want us, as a people to be better. We can be better. This stuff just breaks my heart on both sides as i was raised to respect everyone as my brother as I would want them to. Just wish more had the same process across the board. We are better than this. B

Peaceful protest isn't getting anything done. This is all justified. Though like with everything else in the world, there are some who cross a line.

Cops are abusing the term resisting and assaulting citizens. Murdering Blacks. BLM wants reform. Cops shoot peaceful protestors. Under Cover cops start fires. Pyros want to riot Poor wants to Loot. BLM is pissed. 4 chan gets racist because of space X. Boomers are sad about target. Police never prosecute or reform. Tell people to vote. Trump is angry at looters, he sent FBI to investigate Minneapolis. Despite what you think he’s fought for civil rights w/ rosa parks, muhamid ali is his fav. Desegregated golf courses. People want to burn down white house for political power. Cops Mace reporters at lawn. Riots spread to other cities because of corona lockdown. Trump sends in National Guard Rioters are murdering civilians. Everyone is full on race war as the 1% consolidates wealth. George Soros has the giggles. Bill gates is creating bio weapons.

First off, I want to say that what the police officer did was horrible and he should be punished. I personally think that these riots are pointless. Theres videos of people burning the possessions of homeless people, stealing from local businesses, and harassing people. Peaceful protesting is something I can get behind, but whats happening now is...well I honestly have no words to describe it. Riots are not gonna get anything done. These riots hurt local businesses. The same local businesses that were already hurting enough from COVID-19, now the owners of these businesses have to deal with looters taking whats left. Thats all I have to say. [spoiler]Inb4lock[/spoiler]